Ch 81: Royal Palace

Breaking through the city walls, both sides fell into chaotic and brutal street fighting. In this small-scale conflict, the tall Vikings held the advantage. This lasted until two in the afternoon, when most of the city district’s garrison were either dead or surrendered, leaving only a few hundred people hiding in the Royal Palace, refusing to come out.

Half an hour later, Vig arrived on horseback outside the Royal Palace and found Halfdan raging, “Bring everything that can be lit, I’m going to burn these ungrateful bastards alive.”

To show his status, Halfdan wore a white robe over his chainmail, depicting a charred black oak tree. At first glance, it looked a bit like a Crusader knight from posterity.

He ordered the soldiers to pile firewood outside the palace and pour oil on it. Just as he was about to set it alight, Ragnar arrived with a large number of guards and stopped him.

“Stop. Find a prisoner and tell Æthelwolf that I don’t intend to kill him, nor do I intend to occupy Wessex.”

“What did you say?” Halfdan stood there dumbfounded, not understanding what his father was doing. Seeing his younger brother’s dazed look, Ivar impatiently pushed him aside and carried out Ragnar’s order.

Soon, the prisoner disappeared behind the door. Facing many questioning faces, Ragnar sighed and patiently explained his actions:

“Our troops are insufficient; we cannot occupy all of Mercia, let alone Wessex to the south. The soldiers are eager to go home and enjoy life; this war should end.”

After waiting half an hour, Æthelwolf sent an envoy to ask the Vikings what their terms were.

Ragnar: “Æthelwolf can continue to rule Wessex, provided he gives up his throne and submits to me.”

Next, the two sides engaged in a long period of bargaining. Æthelwolf insisted that his religion and customs remain untouched.

Ragnar’s conditions were that Wessex cede the Oxford region, hand over control of Southampton’s customs, and strictly control the number of troops.

The argument lasted until dusk, and Ragnar became entangled in the last question, “After Æthelwolf voluntarily gives up the crown, what title should he be granted? Earl of Wessex （Jarl）?”

At this time, Goodwin proposed emulating Francia:

“Your Majesty, according to the Frankish feudal system, the existing nobles are roughly equivalent to Earls. Above the Earls, you can establish a new title.”

He picked up a charred wooden stick and drew a Latin word on the ground—dux.

“Dux, originating in the late Roman Empire, means military commander, responsible for border defense. Charlemagne was influenced by this and used ‘duc’ as the title for military commanders in the border military districts （Bavaria, Aquitaine）. Their status was higher than that of the Earls, with greater independence, and they had the power to tax, mint coinage, and make local laws, which fits the current situation perfectly.”

Ragnar fell into long contemplation; everyone remained silent. In Vig’s impression, the so-called dux eventually became the English word “duke （Duke）”.

At sunset, Ragnar put forth his final proposal—to grant Æthelwolf the title of Duke of Wessex; cede the northern border, including Oxford; not to expand the army without permission; and hand over control of Southampton’s customs.

Theodulf had rendered great service, and his wife had Mercian Royal Family bloodline. His appointment as Duke of Mercia would be more easily accepted by the people. His fiefdom would be the western territory of Mercia, plus the ceded Oxford region, for a total area equal to half of the original Mercia.

In addition, King Edmund of East Anglia surrendered voluntarily. He was too weak to be made a Duke and was made Earl of East Anglia instead.

Under duress, Æthelwolf led his family out of the Royal Palace and knelt in submission to Ragnar.

In contrast, Theodulf was in particularly good spirits and readily accepted the appointment. He even praised Ragnar as “the Charlemagne of Britain,” causing Vig to inwardly complain:

“King Eric is called ‘the Charlemagne of Northern Europe,’ and now you call Ragnar ‘the Charlemagne of Britain.’ How many Charlemagnes are there in the world?”

The allegiance ceremony ended, and Ragnar looked at some of his subordinates who were eager to proceed, giving a gentle smile, “Who’s first?”

“Me! I’m first,”

Ulf rushed ahead of others, “In the Battle of Tamworth, I killed Crown Prince Burgred. Liverpool is too impoverished; I request a change of fiefdom.”

Ragnar was about to agree when he suddenly recalled an incident from four years ago.

After capturing York, seven nobles jointly rejected the request for knighthood from Bjorn and others, causing Bjorn to leave in a huff, preferring to live in Iceland rather than settle in Britain.

“This is my son, whom I have painstakingly raised, and now he doesn’t even want to return to his own home.”

Unknowingly, his gaze gradually turned cold. He gave Ulf a new territory—Kent, located in the southeast corner of Britain. If the Franks launched a large-scale invasion, he would let this fellow delay them.

After dealing with Ulf, Ragnar enfeoffed three confidants.

Niels received Nottingham, Gunnar received Cambridge, and Orm received Sussex （located south of London）.

In addition, to show respect for the Anglo-Saxons, he specially promoted Goodwin, making him Earl of Suffolk, with territories in the northeast of London.

As for Londinium （London）, and the most prosperous region of Mercia—Tamworth-Repton, these were placed under direct royal rule.

After enfeoffing dukes and earls, Ragnar did not stop there. Over the next two days, he successively enfeoffed more than 300 meritorious soldiers as knights, one-third in York, one-third in Tamworth, and one-third in Londinium.

Out of the instincts of a ruler, Ragnar felt that native knights were far more reliable than Anglo-Saxon gentlemen. Using numerous knightly manors to protect the three core areas would help deter those with ulterior motives.

The enfeoffment concluded, and the Viking army began a several-day-long celebration, with high-ranking officers going to Winchester Royal Palace for a banquet.

During the banquet, Halfdan and others were shocked by the luxurious decorations of the palace. Facing Æthelwolf’s slight contempt, he felt a little embarrassed and sarcastically remarked, “You do have money, but so what? You still lost to us.”

Æthelwolf did not get angry and calmly replied, “Actually, this is nothing. West Francia is the truly wealthy one. Its produce is abundant, and its financial resources are far more substantial than the sum of the Seven Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. If you—no, *we*—attack West Francia, the yield would only be greater.”

At this moment, everyone was drunk, clamoring to attack West Francia. In the Battle of Ratatosk, they were caught off guard by the Frankish knights, and they were eager to avenge themselves.

With the alcohol surging, Ragnar’s mind felt slightly hazy, and he intended to ask Vig’s opinion.

“Vig, Vig?”

It took Ragnar a long time to realize that this fellow was dealing with matters in the outer city camp and could not attend the banquet.

Looking around, the nobles were clearly intoxicated; he couldn’t find anyone suitable to consult and thought to himself:

“The Franks sent reinforcements on their own initiative, and perhaps one day they will attack themselves. Instead of waiting for them to attack us, I might as well lead the troops to attack them first.

If the army mustered next year is less than three thousand, then I will engage in small-scale skirmishes in the coastal areas, retaliating against ‘Bald Head’ Charles for sending reinforcements. If a large army is mustered, then I will lead the fleet into the Seine Estuary, sail upstream, and directly take Paris!”